STAFF
Judy Cockerton, CEO and Founder
jcockerton@treehousecommunities.org (413) 527 7966
Judy Cockerton is a social entrepreneur who has created a grass roots movement to fundamentally change the way we view and care for the 800,000 children who experience foster care in America. An educator, businesswoman, and parent by birth and adoption, Judy founded the innovative non-profit, the Treehouse Foundation, in 2002 after becoming a foster parent.
While on the front lines of foster care, Judy experienced what she calls “The Disconnect”- America’s disengagement from our most vulnerable children.
In talking with hundreds of people about this issue, Judy realized that the main reason for “The Disconnect” is that most Americans think the only way they can support a child in foster care is to become a foster or adoptive parent. For most people, this is too big of an ask. Judy responded by establishing the Treehouse Foundation to create a menu of exciting new engagement opportunities for people of all ages. As she stated on national television, her goal is to get the nation to turn around and embrace our most vulnerable children by offering up replicable programs that inspire people to become a part of the solution.
The first offering in the Treehouse Menu is Treehouse at Easthampton Meadow, an intergenerational community where children who are adopted by relative caregivers, guardians, and adoptive parents, live in a beautiful new neighborhood with elders who act as “extended family.” The learning that we, as a society, will glean from this exciting new paradigm will inform how we move forward in the fields of child welfare, education, social justice, mental health, criminal justice, homeless prevention, psychology, and elder living. Intergenerational community living is one model of Treehouse innovation.
Judy Cockerton and the Treehouse team are actively creating compelling programs and practices that they can offer up to the nation. Judy is currently consulting with organizations in other states to share Treehouse learning.
Kerry Homstead, Easthampton Community Facilitator
kchomstead@treehousecommunities.org (413) 527 7966
Since starting in a small agency created to address the neglected needs of at-risk adolescent girls, Kerry has provided and developed a range of programs and services for many different populations including young parents, teens in foster care, at-risk youth, and families affected by domestic violence. Her longevity in the human service community and experience in watching as trends in child welfare, health and education come and go provide her with an invaluable perspective on the promise of Treehouse.
Kerry has done research for Casey Family Services at the Smith College School for Social Work, and also had the opportunity to work on adult education and literacy as well as girls’ health issues.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andrea Baptiste
Paul Cote
Eileen Dunn
Bianca Latessa
Marian Kent
Regina Mooney
Peter Pollard
Rosa Young
To contact the Treehouse Foundation by mail:
Treehouse Foundation
One Treehouse Circle
Easthampton MA, 01027